The grounds for restaurants lockdown will be re-examined after Easter

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment press release on 1.4.2021, restaurants and other catering service businesses must remain closed to customers until 18 April 2021 in those areas where it is necessary to stop the escalation of the coronavirus epidemic. The grounds for closure are reviewed weekly.

The Government will amend the decree and impose or lift the closure restrictions in line with the epidemiological situation in any given region or area. An amended decree will be issued on Thursday 8 April.

On Wednesday 7 April, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos, THL) will submit a statement, where state its opinion on the updated assessments of the regions’ epidemiological situation, to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö). Updated regional assessments provided by regional coordination groups will probably be made on Tuesday 6 April.

In areas with an improved epidemiological situation, where the closing of restaurants is no longer necessary, the amended decree ending the lockdown would be applicable as of Friday 9 April.

Possible new closures requirements would take effect on Monday 12 April at 00.00. But this would apply only in a situation where, according to the opinion of the health authorities, the epidemiological situation is considered to have seriously deteriorated and lockdown is essential to stop the acceleration of the epidemic.